Late fall is breathtaking bike-riding season in the Napa Valley, but here in California’s Wine Country, you can get out and enjoy the views just about any time of year. One of the best ways is on two wheels: renting bicycles or joining up with a local tour. Here are a few ways to get going…

Whether you know your way around—or not—taking an organized tour of WineCountry is one of the most relaxing ways to take in the scenery. No worrying about where to eat, where to stay, which wineries to visit, or even how to fix your bike, should you get a flat…or worse. A number of bicycle tour companies offer everything from single day events to week-long journeys.

Napa Valley Bike Tours
A local operation featuring a Romantic Getaway Package with trips to Domaine Chandon, a luxurious bed & breakfast (or local hotel) and two gourmet lunches. NVB Tours also offers a seven day Wine-to-Waves self-guided tour. You can pick your route or stick to their recommendations, winding through Napa and out to the coast, with hotel and eating accomdations set up along the way. Just ride, sip and eat to your heart’s content. Napa Valley Bike Tours: 6488 Washington St., Yountville, California, 800-707-BIKE (2453); or www.napavalleybiketours.com.

Getaway Adventures
The Napa Sip ‘N Cycle is a one-day tour through the upper valley, stopping at off-the-beaten-path wineries you might not see otherwise. A winery tour is included, giving visitors a chance to see the vine-to-wine process. Getaway also offers a luxury weekend package that takes bikers through Napa, Calistoga and Healdsburg, stopping at a number of great local wineries like Arroyo, Chateau Montelena and Preston Vineyards. Getaway Adventures: 2228 Northpoint Parkway, Santa Rosa, California, 800-499-BIKE; or www.getawayadventures.com.

Do it Yourself
Want to figure it out yourself? Check out: Wine Country Bike Rides: The Best Tours in Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino Countiesby Lena Emmery (Chronicle Books, $11.95). It includes suggested rides through the northern and southern parts of Napa Valley, as well as wineries in the area to stop and visit. Just be sure to bring along your bicycle pump!